In a statement on Thursday, the department said the latest decision to deny prosecuting officers came “after multiple reviews and analysis of evidence gathered in the investigation of former agents, and reflects the recommendation of experienced prosecutors.”
A report by the Justice Department inspector general found serious failures by the FBI to properly investigate the complaints of gymnasts, who told the office in 2015 about the abuse. The inspector general found that officers lied to investigators, but the Justice Department during the Trump administration and back in the early days of the Biden administration refused to file charges.
Since July 2015, when U.S. gym officials first notified the FBI of allegations of abuse against Nassar, and in September 2016, when the FBI finally began taking investigative action. significant, at least 70 athletes were abused by him, the inspector general reported.
Last October, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco announced a third review of the former agents ’investigation, citing new information that prosecutors were reviewing. Kenneth Polite, Deputy Attorney General, led the final review.
“This in no way reflects a view that Nassar’s investigation has been handled as it should have been, nor does it in any way reflect the approval or contempt for the conduct of former agents,” the department said in a statement. of Justice.
Nassar’s victims, including Olympic gymnasts McKayla Maroney and Simone Biles, appeared before a Senate hearing last year and harshly criticized the FBI and the Justice Department for not accusing the former agents.
John Manly, a lawyer representing the victims, criticized the Justice Department’s latest decision to deny prosecution.
“The Justice Department’s continued failure to prosecute FBI agents, U.S. gymnastics and USOPC officials who conspired to cover up the biggest sexual abuse scandal in sports history is incomprehensible, “Manly said. “On September 13, 2021, gymnasts Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Maggie Nichols shared a heartbreaking testimony with the Judiciary Committee, called for justice and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco promised them action. no action for more than a year, six months, and this promise to the survivors has now been broken. “
The FBI has apologized for the mismanagement of the Nassar case and said it adopted a series of recommendations from the inspector general to prevent the mistakes from being repeated.
The Inspector General’s report last year found that senior officials at the Indianapolis FBI Field Office did not respond to Nassar’s allegations with the utmost seriousness and urgency they deserved and required. they made numerous and fundamental mistakes when they responded and violated multiple FBI policies. when they carry out their research activity. The investigation opened in 2018 to see if the FBI and its field offices dragged their feet in response to allegations of sexual assault by gymnasts and the USA Gymnastics organization in 2015 and 2016.
The publication of the 119-page report comes just over a year after more than 120 of the survivors called on the Justice Department to make the findings public. Nassar, 58, is serving a state prison sentence of 40 to 174 years after 156 years. women and girls said he sexually abused them for 20 years.
The former U.S. and Michigan State University gymnast pleaded guilty in November 2017 to seven counts of criminal sexual conduct for using his profession as cover to sexually abuse his patients.
Nassar also pleaded guilty to federal charges of child pornography and separate charges of state criminal sexual conduct in Eaton County.
This story has been updated with additional details.